Fox says confidentiality agreement won't let him speak

Former Maori Television Service (MTS) chief Derek Fox says he is restrained by a confidentiality agreement from commenting on reports of a sexual harassment case against him.

But he told TV One's Sunday programme last night that he had never sexually harassed anyone in his life.

Maori Television chairman Wayne Walden denied that any confidentiality agreement existed.

Mr Fox's resignation from Maori Television on August 22 sparked a political furore which culminated in Act MP Deborah Coddington - under cover of parliamentary privilege - revealing former MTS board member and broadcaster Joanna Paul as the complainant in a rumoured sexual harassment allegation against Mr Fox.

Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia denied all knowledge of the detail of the matter in Parliament, saying it was "a board matter".

He later said he planned to speak to Mr Walden about it.

Mr Fox would not reveal the circumstances around his resignation last night.

But he said he was disappointed that MTS had reneged on what he claimed was a confidentiality deal when Mr Walden revealed he had quit in the middle of "an investigation regarding a human resources issue".

"I had an agreement with MTS which prohibits me - restrains me - from discussing that," he said.

Despite Mr Walden's denial that any such arrangement existed, Mr Fox continued to insist there had been a written agreement.

"Where I come from, if you have an agreement with someone you stick with it.

"It's a bit like a treaty, really, although that may not be a good analogy."

When asked why he did not wish to defend himself to his critics, he said he saw "no reason to back away" from the agreement.

"On the other hand, though, I can tell you this, that I've never sexually harassed anyone in my life.

"I've managed to go through 56 years without doing that and I haven't seen any reason to change that and start now."

He declined to say whether he was considering court action over the alleged breach of agreement.

In a statement to last night's Sunday programme, Mr Walden said that "at no time has the Maori Television Service sought any kind of confidentiality agreement with Mr Fox.

"Nor has it restrained him from discussing the reasons for his resignation."

- NZPA